touchstone

noun

touch·​stone ˈtəch-ˌstōn How to pronounce touchstone (audio)
plural touchstones
Synonyms of touchstone
1
: a fundamental or quintessential part or feature : basis
a touchstone film of that decade
now considered a touchstone of the city's life—Michael Specter
2
: a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing
Good service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant.
3
: a black siliceous stone related to flint that is used to test the purity of gold and formerly silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal

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Since the early 16th century, touchstone has referred to a particular kind of siliceous stone (that is, stone containing silica) used to do a particular job: determine the purity of precious metals. The process involves comparing marks made by rubbing a sample of a metal of known purity to marks made by a metal of unknown purity. The method is accurate enough in the case of determining the purity of gold that it is still in use today. Figurative use extended from this literal use, with touchstone functioning as a word for a test or criterion to determine the quality of a thing, and later to refer to a fundamental or quintessential part or feature of something.

Synonyms of touchstone

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standard, criterion, gauge, yardstick, touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be.

standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

Examples of touchstone in a Sentence

Good service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant. his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The most renowned of them, South Pass City, served as a touchstone for my latest novel, Sunrise. — Téa Obreht, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026 The book is written in fragmentary fashion, discrete chunks of prose that accrete into a greater whole, much like the ancient mosaics that are among of the novel’s thematic touchstones. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 According to the announcement, the semi-acoustic record draws inspiration from reflective touchstones in Young’s catalog such as Comes a Time and Prairie Wind, with lyrics that grapple with memory, mortality and renewal. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026 But to their parents who wanted — no, needed — to see the recovering touchstone for themselves, the side trip to Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree was a pilgrimage. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for touchstone

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of touchstone was in 1530

Rhymes for touchstone

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Browse Nearby Words

touch spot
touchstone
touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
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Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchstone. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

touchstone

noun
touch·​stone ˈtəch-ˌstōn How to pronounce touchstone (audio)
1
: a black stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal
2
: a test for judging something

More from Merriam-Webster on touchstone

Nglish: Translation of touchstone for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touchstone

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